Yesterday marked the end of Ramadan and the Ramadan holiday. I've been told that about 70% of the population participates. Practicing Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset for a month. At about sunrise each morning, I had been hearing a single drummer in the streets outside our apartment. I just read that the drummer's job is to walk up and down the streets warning others that the sun is about to rise. Given the number of unfamiliar noises we're unaccustomed to hearing during the night, I wasn't sure what to make of it. At least this noise we could decipher. :-) I notice we're all adjusting to the differences, since the girls don't seem to comment on the "Call to Prayer" that happens five times a day, beginning at 4am. It's rather faint from our apartment and you have to concentrate to hear it.
Each day the Ramadan fast is broken at sundown. There are special foods and bread called Pide that people line up outside bakeries to buy for the evening meal. The month long fast culminates with the Ramadan holiday (Bayram) which began at noon on Thursday and went through Sunday. It's considered a national holiday so many stores are closed and families often go on vacation. Since Mike had this time off, we decided to head to the Princes' Islands as a family for a couple of days.
The islands are about 20 km southeast of the city and are accessible by ferry. We got off at the last island stop, Buyukada, along with the throngs of other people- felt like cattle as we all embanked at the same time. While it was crowded, the trip was great. We put together our "Top 10" highlights (which we typically do after every family vacation) to share with all of you.
Our Family "Top 10" memories from Buyukada Island:
- Mike jumping into the Bosopherus Sea and not getting stung by jellyfish (yes, there were many).
- Eating a fancy freshly caught fish dinner along the boardwalk.
- Staying at Marsal Pensyon-climbing up a narrow winding staircase to our "treehouse" and enjoying the views from our terrace.
- Making it to the top of St. George Monastery. The climb in the heat of the day was tough, but the views of the Bospheros and other islands from the top were spectacular.
- Playing backgammon at the teahouse.
- Meeting the "Pensyon Pet" that reminded Aleah of Denali.
- FInding Ada's Breakfast spot on a side street and enjoying the European gardens and hospitality from Ada, the owner. He brought us delectable treats and gave us a list of places to visit while on the island.
- Turkish hospitality- experienced on many fronts from the pensyon owners to the woman who shared biscuits with the girls on the ferry. We have yet to have a negative experience from the Turkish (fingers crossed). People are trusting and gracious.
- Eating Kareton dessert- a yummy fried delicacy eaten with Chai. We all wanted seconds.
- Walking along the boardwalk during the early morning and evening.